Dem criticizes Trump for ‘thumbs-up’ in Florida

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) slammed President Trump on Saturday for sharing a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up while visiting a hospital where victims of the recent Florida mass shooting are being treated.

“How can you stand there smiling and give a thumbs up when 17 Americans were killed in one of the nation’s deadliest school shootings?” Pocan tweeted. “Where is your courage to stand up to the @NRA, @realDonaldTrump?”

How can you stand there smiling and give a thumbs up when 17 Americans were killed in one of the nation’s deadliest school shootings? Where is your courage to stand up to the @NRA, @realDonaldTrump? https://t.co/8aLJeEG7zW

— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) February 17, 2018

Trump tweeted a series of photos Friday night of himself alongside victims and medical professionals at the Florida hospital.

Our entire Nation, w/one heavy heart, continues to pray for the victims & their families in Parkland, FL. To teachers, law enforcement, first responders & medical professionals who responded so bravely in the face of danger: We THANK YOU for your courage! https://t.co/3yJsrebZMG pic.twitter.com/ti791dENTy

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 16, 2018

{mosads}

Trump also changed the photo in the header of his Twitter profile, which shows him giving a thumbs-up while standing alongside Florida lawmakers and law enforcement officials.

Social media users slammed Trump for the photos, accusing him of being insensitive.

Here’s Trump’s new header pic. He’s meeting with Florida police about the Parkland shooting and giving a thumbs up like he’s at the grand opening of a car lot. pic.twitter.com/IQhnsTPIfv

— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 17, 2018

Trump just changed his Twitter banner to him grinning and giving a thumbs up while meeting with people who just responded to a deadly school shooting pic.twitter.com/hNQnIJhfbu

— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) February 17, 2018

“Ok Mr President, you’re meeting victims of the shooting and the medical staff who treated them. It’s important that you look respectful and solemn”

Trump: “IMA DO A THUMBS UP”

“No sir, please just stand there and–“

“AND A BIG CHEESY GRIN” pic.twitter.com/tWs8jbCxQP

— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) February 16, 2018

You (a moron):
Thoughts and prayers

Trump (a stable genius):
Thoughts, prayers and a massive fucking thumbs up when meeting first responders and victims pic.twitter.com/6SlRggXrTs

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) February 17, 2018

Trump literally thinks everything outside of his cocoon is a photo op and every photo op requires you to smile and give a big thumbs up like you are presenting a golf trophy.

— Schooley (@Rschooley) February 17, 2018

Yep, it happened. We got to see Trump’s idea of a respectful, post-school-shooting Thumbs Up. pic.twitter.com/li5muQJ9xl

— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) February 17, 2018

why is he giving a thumbs up pic.twitter.com/aibWm2Agsm

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) February 17, 2018

Doesn’t look like you’re heart is too heavy. You are smiling ear-to-ear and giving a big thumbs-up in all of these pictures. Seems like you’re just excited to be in front of the cameras. #doSomething https://t.co/GGYvQWP1XQ

— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) February 17, 2018

Thumbs up today in Florida? What?? https://t.co/7WMUOa9NOG

— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) February 17, 2018

Cannot believe he’s posing smiling giving a thumbs up. He defies all sense of where rock bottom narcissism could be https://t.co/S7dchwYOr5

— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) February 17, 2018

Remember all the smiling and thumbs up photos of President Obama’s after Sandy Hook? Yeah me either. https://t.co/x1EeOUTCoY

— Tim Fullerton (@TimFullerton) February 17, 2018

Trump visited the South Florida hospital Friday alongside first lady Melania Trump. He praised the doctors caring for the victims of the shooting as “incredible” and complimented their “record-setting” response to the school shooting.

“Thank you all very much. Fantastic job. Thank you,” Trump told law enforcement officers. “Incredible job and everybody is talking about it.”

Trump did not address questions on the possibility of changing gun control regulations to reporters at the hospital on Friday.

Democrats have renewed their call for gun control legislation following the shooting, which left 17 students and faculty dead and more than a dozen others injured. Survivors of the attack have joined in the call, demanding GOP lawmakers take action after the shooting.